Journal bearing



July 1, 1930. J. F. O'CONNOR JOURNAL BEARING Filed Sept. 28,1927

Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. OCONNOR, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR r0 w. n. MINER, Inc or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE JOURNAL BEARING This invention relates to improvements in journal bearings.

An object of the invention is to provide an antifriction bearing arrangement, more particularly adapted for use in connection with the journals and journal boxes of railway cars, and wherein a plurality of series of antifriction members in the form of cylindrical rollers are interposed between race elements associated with the journal box and the journal, and so arranged that the adjustment of one of the race elements from the outer end of the journal, when the same is in position in the tjournal box, efi'ects adjustable movement 0 the race elements with reference to each other, and with reference to the anti-friction elements, whereby the parts are positioned for eflicient operation and to take up wear when necessary.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a fragment of a railway car truck, showing a truck pedestal member. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Fig. -1. And Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawing, 10 represents a fragment of the body portion of a car truck, and 11 represents a common type of pedestal member mounted thereon, having the usual spaced jaws, between which is slidably disposed a journal box 12 in connection with which the invention is utilized. The numeral 13 indicates one end of an equalizer bar which bears upon the top of the journal box 12 and transmits the loadfrom the frame of the truck to the top of the journal box, which in turn transmits the load to the journal.

The invention, broadly, contemplates the provision of a journal box A, journal race elements B, journal box race element C, antifriction members D, and adjusting nut E.

The, journal. box A comprises side, top,

Application filed September as, 1927. Serial No. 222,414.

19l9 and an equalizer seat 20 for the reception of the end of the equalizer bar 13. The side walls of the journal box A are also provided with spaced flanges indicated at 2121, said flanges being adapted to cooperate with the pedestal jaws to provide guides in the usual manner, the journal box A being retained in itsiposition between the jaws of the pedestal member by the usual strap 22.

The journal 15 is formed to provide an annular shoulder 23 and a reduced threaded end portion 24, about which is formed in the end of the journal an annular recess 25 for a purpose hereinafter referred to. I

Mounted upon the journal 15 are the journal race elements B. These race elements are preferably two in number and are best shown in Fig. 2, being indicated by the numerals 26 and 27. The race element'27 is in the form of a collar or sleeve having a cylindrical portion -fitted upon the journal, the outer periphery 28 of which is cone shaped and tapers inwardly. Formed at the opposite edges of the cylindrical portion are angularly disposed flanges 29--29, one of which bears against the annular shoulder 23 on the journal to limit inward movement of the member 27 with respect to the journal. The journal race element 26 is'exactly similar to the race element 27 except for its opposite disposition, and includes peripheral bearing surface'30 which tapers inwardly in a direction opposite to the taper of the bearing surface 28. The member 26 has flanges 31-31 similar to the flanges 2929. The race element 26, when the parts are in position upon the journal, is spaced from the member 27, so that the desired adjustmcnt may he made as hereinafter described.

The journal box race element C is annular in form and is disposed in the annular recess 14 in the journal box, in such manner that the same may be moved axially therein, the width of the element C being such as to normally provide some clearance between the inner edge of said element, as indicated at 32, and an annular shoulder 33 formed on the rear wall of the journal box. The race element C has oppositely tapered bearing surfaces 34 and 35, said bearing surfaces converging inwardly from the edges of the member toward a central point where they merge.

The bearin surfaces 34 and 35 of the race element and the bearing surfaces 29 and 30 of the race elements B have antifriction rollers D interposed therebetween. The anti-friction rollers D preferably comprise six annular series, three of which are carried by the member 26, and three by the member 27, said rollers being of such character as to fit between the flanges 31-31 of the member 26, and the flanges 29-29 of the member 27, the abutting faces of each of the anti-friction rollers of each series being spherical in form, as indicated at 36, thereby reducing the friction between the rollers and the flanges of the race elements B, and providing for slight relative movement of said rollers with respect to each other and the members 26 and 27. The rollers associated with the member 26 bear upon the surfaces 30 and 3 of the members B and C, while the rollers associated with the member 27 bear upon the surfaces 28 and 35 of the race elements.

The adjusting nut E is threaded upon the threaded portion 24 at the end of the journal, and said nut is provided with an annular flange 37 which bears a ainst the outer flange of the member 26. he inner surface of the nut E is rovided with an annular flange 38 which fits into the recess 25 surrounding the threaded Portion 24 of the journal. Interposed between the inner surface of the nut E and the end wall of the journal 15 is a plurality of plates or shims 39, each of the shims being provided with an aperture, the wall of which fits about the flange 38 on the inner surface of the nut E. The nut E is adapted to be locked into position by a suitable cotter pin 40 which extends through the nut and the threaded portion 24 of the journal. A cap or cover l1 is provided which closes the outer end of the journal box and is detachably screwed in position by aplurality of bolts 42, which extend through the cap into the walls of the journal box.

In operation, the load is transmitted from t e truck to the equalizer bar 13, which in turn imposes the load upon the top of the 'journal box-A.- The load is then transmitted through the journal box to the race element C, thence to the rollers and race members B, and thence to the journal 15. Assuming that it isdesired to adjust the bearing when the same is in assembled condition in order to take up wear or to posi- .tion the parts for the most ellicient operation, the cotter pin 40 is removed, the nut E screwed off of the threaded end of the journal and one or more shims removed from the flange 38 on the nut. The nut is then replaced andthe removal of the shim 0r shims permits the nut to be screwed upon the journal at greater distance than before. During this movement the flange 37 of the nut bearing upon the outer edge of the member 26 forces said member inwardly toward the member 27, of course carryin the rollers disposed between the flanges of the member 26 in the same direction. This action, due to the bearing relation of the rollers with the bearing surface 34: of the race element C moves the said race element C axially inward'along the journal as permitted by the clearance between the inner ed e 32 of said member and the annular shou der of the journal box. During this action the member 27 is held stationary by the annular shoulder 23 on the fjournal 15 causing the bearing surface 35 o the member C to move axially inward with reference to the rollers carried by the member 27, thereby taking up any play betwen the rollers and race members and serving to adjust the same entirely from the outer end of the journal when the same is in operative position with respect to the journal box, the cover 41 of course haviiig been removed to permit access to the nut and being replaced when the adjustment has been made.

Due to the curved surfaces of the rollers D friction is reduced between them and a small amount of relative movement between them afforded whiclr prevents 'binding or other trouble.

While I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scopeof the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

'1. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a journal box member and a journal member; of a plurality of race elements associated with one of said members and disposed in spaced relation, one of said elements being normally held stationary and .each of said elements being provided with; spaced angularly disposed flanges; annular series of anti-friction elements disposed between the angular flanges of each of said race elements; 9. co-operating race element associated with the other of said members, said co-operating member being of greater crosssectional thickness at the center than at the edges, and each of said first named race elements and anti-friction elements engaging said co-operating race elements at opposite sides of the central enlargement; and means for axially moving one of said first named race elements, and the anti-friction elements carried thereby, whereby said co-operating race element is adjusted with reference to V the stationary race element.

2. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a journal and a journal box; of a race clement disposed in said journal box and axially adjustable with reference thereto, said element being provided with oppositely inclined bearing surfaces tapering from the edges toward a central point; a plurality of journal race members, each having a bearing surface disposed in parallel relation with reference to the bearing surfaces of said journal box race member, one of said journal race members being normally disposed in stationary condition, while the other of said journal race memhers is spaced therefrom and axially movable with respect thereto, each of said journal race members being provided with spaced angular flanges; a plurality of annular series of anti-friction elements arranged between the flanges of each of said journal race elements and bearing upon the adjacent surfaces of said journal box race element; and means for moving one of said journal race elements axially with reference to said journal and the other of said journal race elements, for adjusting all of the race elements and anti-friction elements with reference to each other.

In a structure of the character described, the combination with a journal and a journal box; of a race element disposed in said journal box and axially adjustable with reference thereto, said element being provided with oppositely inclined bearing surfaces tapering from the edges toward a central point; a plurality of journal race members, each having a bearing surface disposed in parallel relation with reference to the bearing surfaces of said journal box race member, one of said journal race members being normally disposed in stationary condition, while the other of said journal race members is spaced therefrom and axially movable. with respect thereto, each of said journal race members being provided with spaced angular flanges; a plurality of annular series of anti-friction elements arranged between the flanges of each of said journal race elements and bearing upon the adjacent surfaces of said journal box race elements; and means for moving one of said journal race elements axially with reference to said journal and the other of said journal race elements, for adjusting all of therace ele- 

